“What are you two doing on the field. I didn’t-“ The Commander looked at the two boys with authority, it almost masked his fear.

“We were told to give you a message.” Turning towards him both boys put one hand out. Something flew into one’s hand while something shot out of the others, and threw the Commander's head. The Commander fell flat and the boys tossed two small balls back and forth.

While my confusion set it the balls shot towards me. They didn’t have the shine the other metal balls had so my curiosity got the better of me. Catching both, I brought them to my face. I was holding two eyeballs, the Commanders.

“We were told to give you a message too.” My eyes darted back to the kids, focusing in anticipation of their attack. “You win.”

…. “….What?”

“Too much has been lost. Further investments will only lead to greater losses. It’s partly his fault,” The twin talking looked toward the Commander’s body, “and part hers. If she had realized there was a second catastrophic level subject in her ranks then this-“

“Pull, doesn’t he look familiar?” The second twin, Push, burst out.

“What, no. Why would you say something while I was giving the speech?!” Pull turned towards Push, tossing his arms in the air as he yelled.

“No, I really think we’ve seen him somewhere before. Look at him.” They both stopped bickering and stared at me. Slowly a smile came to Push’s face. “He’s the slippery guy!”

Pull looked towards him with doubt, “The slippery guy? He looks like he could eat the slippery guy.”

Push crouched down, “There’s only one way to find out!”

Pull reached out to grab him but was too late, “No, we’re not supposed to- Dammit, PUSH!” Already halfway to me I was ready to fight but Push suddenly lurched back and slammed into the ground.

Getting up off the ground he looked dumbfounded, “…Did, you just, pull me?”

Pull pleaded with his brother, “What if she shows up? We can’t beat her, so let's just do what we were told.”

BOOOOMMMMM!!!!!

Forced to my knees by the shock wave I looked back to see Red. She ran over to me, “I found Wayne, come on let’s….” Her eyes fell to Carnie’s body, which was still lifeless on the ground. “How?” She dropped to her knees and lifted up Carnie’s body. “How long has she been like this?”

I crawled over on my knees to her, “Sixty, maybe ninety seconds.” I could see the concern on her face.

“Her head, it’s not healing. She’s never had a head injury this bad!” Red’s voice was panicked.

Placing my hand on her shoulder I comforted her while watching the paralyzed Push and Pull for any movement, “I’m sure she’ll heal.”

“SHE’S NOT HEALING!” At the raising over her voice, the ground cracked around us causing the gravel to run into them like water.

“It’s okay Red! You have a vial left right? Give her one.”

Hope exploded on Red’s face as she searched for one in her pockets. Pulling one out she tried to bring it to Carnie’s mouth but it shattered in her hand. “FUCK!” This time the ground caved in as the cracks formed and the gravel near her shot in all directions. It had enough force to shred skin.

Ignoring the shotgun-like pellets of gravel now in my side I grabbed her with one arm while putting my other in her pocket and grabbing her remaining vial. “It’s alright, I’ll do it.”

Pouring the contents down Carnie’s throat we all waited. Push and Pull still hadn’t moved, I wasn’t completely sure why but they were definitely hesitant to attract Red’s attention.

Holy shit! She’s not, healing?

She sat in silence, staring at the body until, “….Them?”

I knew what she was asking and responded in confirmation “Them.”

Handing me the body, it anchored my exhausted body to the floor. With every step she took towards them there was a thunderstorm in the earth.

It wasn’t clear to me why she was walking until she took her first running step. Push and Pull shot in opposite directions just barely making it out of her grasp. A trail of destruction laid behind Red.

The metal balls, rocks, bones, anything Push could get his hands on ricocheted off Red’s face and body. It wasn’t visible but I’m sure push was also hitting her with his ability. They played the deathly game of tag for a few more seconds before Red came to a stop.

It was clear that Push, with the aid of his brother Pull, was faster. But then Red put her hand up and a massive shockwave threw Push at least fifteen feet back.

What was that? Does she have an ability I don’t know about? No, maybe she just lied about the extent of it. Wait, they were talking about a second catastrophic-level person. It’s her.

They danced around her using everything they had to evade her attacks. Reaching down she ripped up ten-foot-long patches of solid ground and threw them like pebbles. I watched every second of it with bated breath, any moment could be the death blow to them. However, my concentration was ripped away from them by the hand that now wrapped around my throat. I didn't even have to look to know, Carnie had healed. Held in the air by my neck I called out to Red but no sound escaped my mouth. It didn't take long before the word started to tunnel, I was already past my physical limit.

The world was already pitch black when I heard a lifesaving sentence "Look you crazy bitch, she's alive!"